I feel. Therefore I am.

Cogito, ergo sum—I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes)

We become what we think. We are what we think. Each statement is rooted in logic. There’s no denying the fact that we’re constantly thinking. 

Thoughts are fluid.

Thoughts come and go—some barely noticed, others lingering just long enough to spark a new thought. When we obsess, we hold on to certain thoughts and replay them over and over: worry, regret, excitement. And only we hold the power to give them weight and permanence. Thoughts that stay eventually shape and define us. 

I feel, therefore I am.

Today, I’d like to step away from the mind and talk about the heart. I feel, therefore I am. This statement isn’t grounded in logic or reason; it doesn’t try to prove anything. 

Feelings are less about understanding and more about experiencing. Feelings are raw, immediate, unfiltered. They don’t require any explanation. They just are. When we feel, we’re not just observing life—we’re living it. Whether it’s joy or sadness, hope or heartbreak, awe or anger, feelings pull us into the present in a way that thought cannot. 

Thinking questions. Feeling connects. Thought seeks answers. Feeling seeks meaning. And within meaning, there is richness of purpose. It’s not just about existing; it’s about truly being.

Does feeling define existence?

If feeling defines our existence, where does that leave those who feel less—or feel differently? What about someone who is emotionally numb, struggling with mental health? Or someone who doesn’t feel sympathy or empathy in the way we expect? Are they any less alive? The truth is, existence doesn’t depend on whether we feel deeply or rarely. It’s more complex than that.

Can we even separate thoughts and feelings?

Many feelings start in the mind—a memory that makes us cry, a thought that sparks anger, an idea that fills us with hope. Thought shapes feeling, just as feeling shapes thought. They’re tangled together in a way that makes it hard to tell where one ends and the other begins.

Feelings are powerful.

They shape how we act, how we connect, and how we experience life. But they’re not always reliable.

Learning to control our feelings is important. It’s not about learning to shut them down, but rather learning to guide them in a way that serves us. Anger, if left unchecked, can lead to actions we regret. Joy can blind us to risk. Sadness can trap us in dark places.

Feelings are good, but they can mislead us, overwhelm us, and even paralyze us.

Feelings are the colour of life.

Feelings don’t just help us connect to others—they connect us to ourselves. They remind us that we’re more than just minds in bodies. We’re whole beings—thinking, feeling, experiencing, struggling, and growing.

For those of us born with empathy, who feel the world’s weight as if it’s our own—yes, it can be exhausting. It can hurt. Sometimes it becomes too much. But that same empathy is a superpower. It’s what helps us understand people when no one else does. It’s what drives us to make the world softer, kinder, better.

Feelings enrich existence.

Rather than saying feelings define existence, we should say feelings enrich existence. Our feelings allow us to leave ripples in the lives of everyone we touch.

To feel deeply is both a blessing and a burden, but it’s always a gift. If we learn to use our feelings well, we will not only live fully, but also light the way for others to do the same.

The Muchness of Life

I love words. I always have. And today, I thought about one that no one uses: muchness. By definition, it means greatness in quantity or degree.

For me, it means the depth and intensity that defies containment – the essence of being profoundly alive in any moment, whether in pain or joy.

I can’t imagine there’s a single person on this gigantic blue ball who hasn’t, at one time or another, experienced muchness: the muchness of a mood, the muchness of a feeling, the muchness of an act, or the muchness of a person.

We know the muchness of a heavy heart – the overwhelming ache that pulls us deep within ourselves. And we know the muchness of joy – the kind that bursts forth, lifting us beyond ourselves. Both remind us that we’re fully, deeply alive.

Let’s embrace the muchness in our lives. When it’s negative, minimize it by focusing on the muchness of what’s positive. Let us always dare to feel, express, and live in all our muchness!

 

The Bare Necessities of Change

The Only Constant in Life

Heraclitus, the Greek philosopher, once said that change is the only constant in life. I never gave it much thought—until recently. Scrolling through Facebook, I came across a post about different life laws. One of them, the Law of Impermanence, stopped me in my tracks. I’ve always known change happens, but I had never considered it a fundamental rule of life.

The Comfort of Familiarity vs. the Push of Change

Like most people, I’m not the biggest fan of change. There’s something comforting about the familiar, the predictable. It feels safer when things stay the same. But, as we all know, life has a way of pushing us out of our comfort zones. And for me, it’s been a lot of moving – from town to town, house to house, school to school, job to job. The only thing that remained constant in all that change was my marriage and my family. And in a way, that made the other changes a bit easier to handle. Life’s changes make you face things head-on, and eventually, you have to accept that nothing stays the same forever.

Resilience in the Face of Change

Change is necessary because it teaches us resilience. The tough times, when life shifts under our feet, are when we learn who we really are. We find strength we didn’t know we had. We learn to bend without breaking. We discover how to keep moving forward, even when everything feels like it’s falling apart. It’s in those moments of change that we grow, both as individuals and as people who share similar experiences with others.

Unexpected Loss

I remember when my friend’s sister passed away unexpectedly. At the time, I couldn’t fully understand the depth of her grief. I hadn’t faced that kind of loss in years. Then, a few years later, my brother died suddenly. It shook me to my core. And all I could think about was how my friend had suffered, how she had found a way through it. It gave me some comfort knowing that I wasn’t alone – that others, too, face loss and come out the other side.

Gratitude in the Midst of Change

While loss is painful, it’s also a reminder to appreciate the small things. The Law of Impermanence helps us see that everything, even the hard moments, is temporary. And if we can embrace that, we start to appreciate the present more. It’s those little moments – like a quiet morning with coffee or a smile from someone we love – that truly matter. Everything is fleeting, so we should cherish it while we have it.

The Peace of Gratitude

But gratitude doesn’t just appear overnight. It takes time, and it often comes through personal experience – the kind of experiences where we lose something or someone. But once we start to carry gratitude with us, we find a quiet peace. Knowing that nothing lasts forever, we can be present and grateful for what we have right now.

Growth Through Change

And then there’s the growth that comes with impermanence. Change pushes us to grow, to become better versions of ourselves. Life throws challenges and surprises our way, and each one shapes who we are. It’s so easy to resist change, to cling to what we know, but if we let go a little, we open ourselves up to life in ways we never imagined. Every change, every new experience, is an opportunity to learn and evolve.

Finding Spiritual Meaning in Impermanence

On a deeper level, impermanence brings a spiritual dimension. When we understand that everything in the material world is fleeting, we start searching for something more lasting. For me, that’s meant diving deeper into my spiritual side and looking for meaning beyond the daily grind. It’s helped me focus on what really matters – nurturing relationships, being present, and living in a way that aligns with my true self. The Law of Impermanence leads us towards a richer, more fulfilling life.

Navigating Change Together

And here’s what I’ve come to realize: We’re all navigating change together. Yes, our experiences are unique, and we each handle change in our own way. But at the end of the day, we’re all going through it. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a career shift, or personal growth, change connects us. It reminds us that we’re not alone in our journeys.

Embracing the Law of Impermanence

If you’re like me and struggle with change, I get it. I’m not here to offer advice on how to embrace it. Truth is, I’ll probably never enjoy change. But what I do know is that the Law of Impermanence isn’t something to fear. It’s a guide that helps us grow, understand ourselves and others better, and ultimately find fulfillment. When we accept that change is a part of life, we can face it with a little more grace and a little more hope for the future.